Back to August 1998 - TurboTurbine
Version 1
The spark igniter is a design I found on the web. It uses a
12v car ignition coil, a capacitor (about 1 to 3 microfarads - I used an old
microwave capacitor) and a household lighting dimmer switch. In use,
it produces a good strong spark stream through a standard sparkplug and will
easily ignite the propane gas mixtures I use in my engines.
Warning - This device WILL give a powerful kick (I know!)
and should also be housed in a strong container to catch shrapnel in the
unlikely event that the coil dies. I have run one of these continuously for
several hours without mishap. I may have just been lucky - you have been
warned.
To use the coil connect a standard spark plug lead from the
terminal on the top of the coil to the sparkplug. Connect a wire between the
sparkplug body to the ignition coil body. Turn the dimmer switch until
sparks start at the sparkplug.
